by Rex Rouis

Carl_Bloch_The_Resurrection_350-webThe overriding issue in prayer is whether or not the prayer is spoken in faith. If you do not have faith then all the praying in the world won’t help you (unless perhaps you call upon the mercy of God).

The single active ingredient in prayer is faith. If faith is there, chances are real good that the prayer will be correct, or at least close enough. Its not the words necessarily but the release of faith that will bring the desired answer.

Whatever words you say, make sure you believe them, and you will have them. The Bible is real clear in that the words you say must not differ with what you are believing in your heart.

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt (differ, disagree, ‘strife with oneself’) in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23

The words must be living, fresh, and from your heart, not from some prayer book. The Bible is based on a system of living words. God speaks living words to us. We receive them into our heart and through continued diligence in love and the Spirit we allow faith to grow. The harvest of these living words is faith, and once we have it, then we release it through living words. The living words coming out of our mouth is called Prayer.

What about, ‘If it be thy will?’

Jesus said the words, ‘If it be thy will’ during one of His prayers. Much has been made of this. Throughout the Gospels, whenever Jesus prayed He always exhibited a clear understanding of God’s will. There was never a hint of uncertainty in any one of them. He prays once for direction and puts an ‘if’ in it and suddenly all types of prayer are thus affected. He is not praying to change the world; He is praying to seek the will of God. When Jesus uttered this phrase, He was in the process of seeking the will of God concerning His imminent passion. This was huge and He needed to know for an absolute surety that this is what God wanted and that there was no way around it. This was hard and He needed to know solidly from God. Everything depended on it. One must have their heart solid on the will of God before their faith can be real. There is no ‘if’ in faith once it has become a reality in the heart.

Faith begins where the will of God is known.

If faith is based on the known will of God, how can a prayer prayed in faith have an ‘if’ in it? We must assume that Jesus was ‘in faith’ when He prayed this prayer. The ‘if’ had nothing to do with whether the prayer would get answered, but it had everything to do with Him being open to what the answer would be. The ‘if’ was what He was believing for and seeking God for. He was in faith seeking the ‘if’ of His future. Seeking is all the about the ‘if’ of the future. Faith all about knowing the reality of the will of God on a specific issue. Again, Jesus knew that God would give Him the answer; He just didn’t know what the answer was going to be. That is seeking.

And without faith it is impossible to please {Him,} for he who comes to God must believe that He is and {that} He is a rewarder of those who (diligently) seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:11,13-14

When seeking the will of God you must believe that He exists, that He rewards diligent seeking, and that you will get an answer. When seeking the will of God, using the phrase, ‘if it be thy will,’ is appropriate. The phrase is otherwise never mentioned in prayer. If you need a mountain to move in your life, or you have a debilitating issue (like the woman with the issue of blood), inserting an ‘if’ in your prayer just won’t do. For all those situations, knowing the will of God from the word and from having previously sought His face is the only way. Faith begins where the will of God is known. Just throwing out the phrase ‘if it be thy will’ and taking whatever comes may sound good but it is not the faith exemplified in the Gospels. It is a false submission, a lazy submission. The only issue that Jesus looked at, and still looks at, is faith, and faith is based on a knowing in the heart, a reality heard from God. See the article – ‘If it be thy will’

There are three main categories of prayer:
  1. Seeking Prayer – Seeking God and finding His will – Knowing and believing that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. ‘If’s’ are appropriate in these prayers of seeking.
  2. Asking Prayer – Asking God in faith according to His will – Knowing and believing that He will answer.
  3. Declaring Prayer – Authoritative declaring of His will in faith – Knowing and believing that it will obey you. (One quick rule – this does not work on other people.)

We pray and seek God to find His will, and once we find it we pray and release His will (and its corresponding faith), into the world. Both ‘seeking prayer’ and ‘asking/declaring prayer’ are absolutely necessary to our walk of faith and obedience.

Comments

  1. Please pray for me in this situation. I need a place to stay a new place big enough right now for 2 people. I call those things which be not as though they were call forth that place in Jesus name. We have not because we ask not but I am asking Pray for any hindrances to be bound in Jesus name. Call forth favor for me, favor with God and man . Pray this over me May the Lord bless me and keep me . May the Lord make his face to shine upon me and be gracious unto me. y the Lord lift his countenance upon me and give me peace. Jesus mighty name Amen” Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and it will be yours.”

  2. dear heavenly father i just want to thank u for watching over me an my family an bless us to see another day,an keeping us safe from harm an danger,with out u nothtng possible,i at that you comtinue to walk with me an my family in these strom we going threw i no u have all power in your hand nothing you cant do i bring it to u an leave it here.because i trust u to fix it jesus i claim healing in my body my family body i claim favor in my life an familt life.favor in my home,every were i go .an i trust bod to see that i have the money that food will stay in my home for me an my family.in jesus name amen.

  3. Father,
    It is great to be alive, it is great to know You. Thank You for the first blessing of this day, to see the light. Thank You that Your love is the same everyday and nothing we do or say can change that. Thank You God, that today Your special favour is upon us today, that Your special favour is upon me, that Your blessings is upon me today. I thank You God that today you will open doors no man can close, that Your promises will come to pass. Thank You that today i can be expectant of Your mercy, Your favour, Your blessings and Your supernatural provision. I pray that You will come and fill me with Your strength and power, with faith and hope. God thank You that those that hope on You will not be dissapointed because You delight in our prosper, You delight in our joy. Father, i come and i submit my life to You, i lay myself at Your feet and i thank You for every blessing coming my way today. You will take care of me today, You will provide and i thank You in the almighty name of Jesus.
    Father i declare that i am Your child, You are my King, I am free from bondage, i am covered under the precious blood of Jesus. I will not fear, Your favour will follow me, today i am the head and not the tale, i am above and not beneath, I am prospering. Every person i deal with , every task i take on will be successful. Oh God, thank You for the confirmation of Your word, Your word is the truth and i accept it in Jesus name.
    I am blessed, beyond measures, without limits, my storehouse overflow. Thank You that in the name of Jesus every debt is paid and i can enjoy the benefit of freedom of debt.
    In Jesus name i pray with thanks.
    Amen

  4. i want to thank u for that wonderful ptay i really needed that.

  5. Dear God,
    You have given us a new day. How wonderful. You have blessed us with fresh air, light of a new day, mercies to carry us through and Your promise of provision. Your word say we should not worry about what we shall eat, or cloth because Your provision is enough for us. Father, as i enter this day i want to thank You for every single promise, i hold onto Your hand as together we walk this day. Thank You that whatever may come my way, i shall not fear because You are with me. You protect me with Your right hand, Your blessings and favour is upon me , my cup floweth over. Thank You God that today:
    – I am blessed abundantly, so much i dont have room enough to contain
    – I am prosperous, whatever i do prospers
    – My territory are enlarged in every aspect of my life
    – I am increased in Jesus name
    – I am the head and not the tail, above and not underneath
    – People i meet becomes blessings to me
    – Your favour is upon me, Your favour follows me
    – Whatever i touch, take on today will be successful.
    – I am victorious, I am more than a conquerer through Christ who sustains me.
    I thank You now dear Lord for Your compassion and love for me, I thank You now that every area of my life is prospering. My marriage, my finances, my job, my relationships, my spiritual life, my relationship with You as my saviour. I thank You now that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, that we are overcomers, that You my King paid the high price for me to boldly declare i am free of all bondage , free of all poverty and hardships because You were rich but was made poor for me to become rich. I worship You, i honour You, I bless Your almighty name above all.

    I AM BLESSED, I AM BLESSED, I AM BLESSED, I AM BLESSED
    Amen and Amen

  6. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER I WANT TO THANK U FOR WATCHING OVER ME AN KEEPING ME SAFE AN OUT HARM WAY, I THANK U FOR LOVING ME WHEN I DIDN,T LOVE MYSELF .I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH ME AN THE STROM S I,M GOING THREW,I CLAIM HEALING IN MY BODY ALL OVER.I TRUST AN BELIEVE AN HAVE FAITH THAT ALL MY PRAYS WILL BE ANSWER I CLAIM FAVOR IN MY HOME,THE MONEY I NEED TO MAKE ENDS MEET,FAVOR OVER MY KIDS,I WILL CONTINUE TO TRUST AN BELIEVE IN YOUR WORD AMEN

  7. Thank you yoli! Your prayer is greatly appreciated! I’m starting to see a light at the end of this tunnel….there is power in prayer! Im starting to have faith again.

  8. Thank you so much yoli! Your prayer is greatly appreciated, I feel an anointing on me right now that is renewing my mind! There is power in prayer!!!

  9. Father God I pray for Michelle, Lord she is struggling with depression and hopelessness we know this attacks are not from you. I ask you to bless her with anointed ears, a renewed mind, and that she will know that she is love by you. Lord send your angels around her. Lord let your arms embrace her Father God in Jesus Precious name. Amen. Michelle this is when you have to activate your faith. You have to open your mouth and read aloud the scriptures. Then share your faith with someone. Believe me you will feel empowered by the Holy spirit. God richly bless you.

  10. Pleasa pray that I am delivered from this deptression and hopelessness . I am losing my faith and I want desperately to get it back.

  11. hello sir, mein shabnam ek muslim girl hu but mein khuda pr shuru se hi bhut trust krti hu, aur mujhe jb bhi moka milta h, mein bible padhti hu church jati hu aur sir jitna trust mujhye khuda pr h, utna hi apki dua pr bhi aur usi trust k sath mein apni job k liye apse pray krwana chahti hu wo kya h sir ek govt. job jiska naam h RASTRIYE GRAMEEDH SWASTH MISSION k liye mene apply kiya h but wo clear nhi ho pa raha h aur uski clearfication ka time mujhe next month starting ka mila h so i really reqt u sir ap dua kriyega k mera ye job jajld se jald ho jaye because i reall need job and sir meri information k liye ap mujhe iska kuch rply zarur dijiyega thank u so much

  12. Dear God,
    Thank You that i can come to You freely. Thank You that You know me and that i can be myself with You. Thank You God that Your ear is never deaf to listen and Your arm never short to help.
    I come before You and i pray that You will guide and direct my steps. I need to go for an interview on Monday, i need Your guidance on that. I am not sure if that is what i want, i am not sure if that is what you have planned for me. I thank You for Your guidance, and i thank You that whatever You have planned for me will come into action at Your perfect timing. God i also accept Your word as stated in Matthew 6 v24-36. I accept Your blessings and favour through faith now in Jesus name.
    God, i also applied for exemption for my BCOM degree, i know You are already preparing my path, i entrust my entire life to You and i worship and honour You as You complete the good You have started within me, as You pour Your favour upon me, as Your blessings overflow in my life.
    God You are almighty, there is none like You, thank You that Your will be done always.
    Be blessed .

  13. I have the problem with being a man, still think and being irresponsible like a little Boy. I am divorced and wish to be married again. …thnk you….

  14. pl pray for my spiritual growth and to grow in the lord work pl pray for the ministry God gave me may i work honestly

  15. Daniel interview for job tomorrow Wednesday.Thank you for praying for him. God bless you.

  16. I need prayer for our miracle and healing crusade in India 2012. and I need prayer for viruses in my ears, God bless you from the Rev. Dr. Jensen Form of Norway

  17. Please pray for me and my children and grand children my family is under satanic attack strife,anger,division unforgiveness the enemy is using my oldest daughter she is in church but will not speak to me her daughter or her younger sister I love my daughter unconditional she has destroyed my character to friends and family I beleive she is under demonic influence when she was nine years of age she had a dream a serpent was coming out of her mouth.Please pray that God will deliver her and take the scales off her spiritual eyes that the Holy Spirit will speak to her heart,that God will restore love and reconciliation and unity in Christ Jesus so that we can Glorify and praise God together as a family Thank you and God bless Annie

  18. Pray for Johnson that God Should heal his speech impediment and chest pain.From Nigeria
    Thanks for praying

  19. I would like to report a praise report. My Mom has been released from the hospital after a 23 day stay. She is now in a rehab hospital to regain her strength. She is walking with the assistance of a walker. I am believing God for FULL RECOVERY. She did not walk with assistance before hospital stay. I am also believing God for her to be released from the rehab with full recovery. The rehab keeps adding new meds. I am believing God that they stop this practice on all patients.

    They have her on preidsone that is causing her legs and feet to swell, and blood sugar to rise please agree with me that ALL SWELLING IS GONE , voice is back completely, blood sugar and blood pressure is normal, no more joint pain, not on insulin or blood pressure meds or tremors and all signs of Parkinson gone forever in the name of Jesus.

    Thank you for all of your prayers.
    Michelle Gilbert

  20. Please pray for my son Daniel he grew up in a strong christian home and church.He is involve with a woman who does not exhibit a godly character and also exhibits a JEZEBEL SPIRIT. My family and I are overwhelm with sadness. Daniel in the name of Jesus come back to CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. Thank you for your time and prayers.
    His parents in Christ.

  21. Pray for my son (Daniel Wong) need to rededicate his life lives to Christ immediately. Pray that God will send Godly people and mentor to lead him in his walk with Jesus. Deliver him from bad company/friends and guide him back to God righteousness.

    Thanks for praying.

    Bro.James Wong
    Malaysia

  22. Please over these requests;
    1.Benjamin and family asking for an immediate overseas missionary call to serve.
    2.Barnabas, Sam, James, Jones, Gloria´s husband, Mary´s husband, Thomas´family, Stephen´s family, Bessie need to recommit their lives to Christ immediately, because they have attending church for many years.
    3.Stephen and Gladys have lost their only son. They need divine strength immediately.
    4.Rebecca and siblings asking divine protection and success from strange diseases, evil attacks, joblessness, etc, etc, from the entire family members, both immediate and extended.
    5.Ben asking for divine success and protection to accomplish his family projects as soon as possible.
    6.Eben, Habo, James, Richard, Martha, Jones, Gloria, Rosina asking for divine help in getting academic scholarships to continue their studies.
    Thanks

  23. I believe that God will bless Gloria Johnson, Lakeysa Ward and Lakaytona Allen. Friday, February 3, 2012 with new cars, Praise the Lord, Most High. I believe, thru faith, which is now Faith. Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen. Hebrew 11:1

    I believe we’ll get our cars on Friday, February 3, 2012 or soon aferwards, Glory to God in the Highest.

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